Squatted, stolen and robbed ...

[convey]

While considering someone else's question, I came over this ad. Sounds absolutely terrible.

Is this anywhere near a common experience these days? Piracy on the Grand Union Canal, or something?

25FT RIVER CRUISER FOR SALE 3000 QUID
DUE TO CORVID I LEFT MY BOAT AND HAD IT SQUATED. STOLEN AND ROBBED WHILST IN ISOLATION.
SO NOW IT IS A PROJECT BOAT. I COULD NOT GET HELP FIXING IT BACK AND DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO DO IT UP.
GENUIN PEOPLE WHO LOVE BOATS MAY CONTACT ME

 

[Beneteau381]

While considering someone else's question, I came over this ad. Sounds absolutely terrible.

Is this anywhere near a common experience these days? Piracy on the Grand Union Canal, or something?

A few years ago a similar thing happened to a vulnerable chap I knew.

 

[convey]

Thanks.

Who is doing it ?

I can imagine yobs just vandalising one, but to be able to start a boat up requires knowledge and experience.

Is it the same as on the coast with criminal gangs targeting ungaurded boats, or are there bad elements within that boating community?

Funnily enough, I never saw the need for it, but one guy I knew who moored his Vega in a metropolitan marina used to remove his exhuast flexible pipe when he left his boat just in case anyone else did try to start it up.

I read there's a debate about the best way to prepare/defend from it, without some arguing for the least amount of protection because the more you add, means the more damage is done by them trying to get in.

 

[scruff]

Thanks.

Who is doing it ?

I can imagine yobs just vandalising one, but to be able to start a boat up requires knowledge and experience.

Is it the same as on the coast with criminal gangs targeting ungaurded boats, or are there bad elements within that boating community?

Funnily enough, I never saw the need for it, but one guy I knew who moored his Vega in a metropolitan marina used to remove his exhuast flexible pipe when he left his boat just in case anyone else did try to start it up.

I read there's a debate about the best way to prepare/defend from it, without some arguing for the least amount of protection because the more you add, means the more damage is done by them trying to get in.

Just like all other toys, do enough to satisfy the insurance co.

 

[Capt Popeye]

A similar unfortunate experience a few years ago; selling a chep done up boat, on ebay, where one does not see the buyer before sale; fella conatcted me, cannot get there for a few weeks, so paid small deposit; On arrival day I left him and girlfriend to look over the boat, fairly safe as it was high n dry as tide out; when I returned they had moved their goods into the boat and said could pay full amount next day; next day became end of week or so; well they moved into the boat and started living in it, slowly paying off the price; I guess from talking to them, that they intended to move onto it all along, as they were Homeless, from Essex, so a way from home grounds; they stated that they were going to take it back to Essex by Coast hopping from South Devon; anyways they soon bought or traded up to a bigger craft and abadoned mine.
So strange things can happen

 

[convey]

Did you get your money and your boat back?

I am afraid that more and more of this is going to happen as the property market continues to be squeezed. After squatting was criminalised, there was a big move into constant cruising with numerous related problems; again, mostly boat abadonment, rubbish dumping, expansion onto strips of land by canals. And I suspect increased thefts.

I guess you accepted the situation but I wonder what it was legally? It's not squatting per se. I suppose it was essential theft of your property. The old "obtaining by false pretences" Schedule 3 to the Fraud Act 2006.

Not a problem Ebay is really set up to resolve either.

But thanks for the education. Just when you think you've learned every scam there is ...

 

[ryanroberts]

This comes up quite a bit on London canal internet. Someone came back from a week's holiday to find a whole coven of crackheads living on their widebeam. Various tales of people repainting things sharpish and trying to get out of town too.

Usually canal boat theft stories in the rest of the country turn out to be domestics or ownership disputes, but real ones happen quite a lot in Lahndon.

 

[convey]

How terrible. Sounds like there's a need for covert tracking devices and cameras at exit points.

 

[samlarson]

Thanks.

Who is doing it ?

I can imagine yobs just vandalising one, but to be able to start a boat up requires knowledge and experience.

Is it the same as on the coast with criminal gangs targeting ungaurded boats, or are there bad elements within that boating community?

Funnily enough, I never saw the need for it, but one guy I knew who moored his Vega in a metropolitan marina used to remove his exhuast flexible pipe when he left his boat just in case anyone else did try to start it up.

I read there's a debate about the best way to prepare/defend from it, without some arguing for the least amount of protection because the more you add, means the more damage is done by them trying to get in.

I'm afraid its a pretty common thing nowadays. Some of the other boat owners got hit pretty hard due to the lockdown and economy crisis so they started to rob other boats and there was couple of cases of theft. The government and payday loans help at the start but after a month people who got laid off from they work or getting their business shutdown altogether are starting to think about the future and someone are more willing to commit a crime than find some other ways because its easier

 

[convey]

I am really sorry to read that. To my mind, it underlines how the idea of community has been lost among boaters and how the rivers and canals are being forced to absorb other social problems. I see more and more people squatting under bridges and building little shanty houses or even simple benders along them.

I know too, around us, narrow boaters in particular are seen as some kind of privileged White elite to those off the bordering estates, generally young Black males, and have been hit by them too, with thefts from boats and mugging on tow paths.

In all fairness, many of them are when it comes to the new build 60' or wide beam boats.